5 Apps Changing How You Spend

5 Apps Changing The Way You Spend Money

Back in the Day
When my grandmother lived in New York City in the 1940s, she paid 10 cents to ride the subway and complained about the cost. In the 1950s, she started using tokens (which cost a whopping 15 cents) — a nifty change in how she purchased transportation. Thirty years later, my father had credit cards at his disposal to make certain purchases (no cash required!). And now, in 2014, I could very well start paying for an array of items with my smartphone.

If you have a smartphone, you have a ton of options when it comes to avoiding big banks, ditching (some) traditional credit usage and even paying back friends. From the $10 you owe your coworker to how to send your rent payment, here are five mobile options that are replacing credit cards, paper checks and ATM trips.